Car-coupling.



W. F. R'CHARDS.

CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24. 1914.

1 1 8 l ,6 1 4; Patent-ea May 2, 1916.

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W. F. RICHARDS.

GAR COUPLING.

APPLICATIGN FILED FEB. 24. 1914.

1,181,6l. I Patented M l ,1916.

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CAR COUPLING.

APPLICATION FILED FEB. 24; 1914. 1,181,614.

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PATENT @EBFIIQE.

WILLARD F. RICHARDS, OF DEPEW, NEW YORK, ASSIGNOR T0 GOULD COUPLER COMPANY, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

GAR-COUPLING.

Application filed February 24, 1914.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, WILLARD F. RICHARDS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Depew, in the county of Erie and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Car-Couplings, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to railway car couplers, and more particularly to improvements in couplers which are adapted for use on passenger cars having platform buifers located above the couplers, and which have lock operating means extending from the coupler toward the side of the car.

The objects of the invention are to provide car couplers having a vertically movable lock, with a lock-operating mechanism of simple and efficient construction by which the coupler is adapted to be operated from either or both sides thereof, and which will not interfere with the nearby parts or devices on the car, such as the buffer, air hose, steam pipes, chains, etc.; and also to make the lock-operating mechanisms of a construction adapted to couplers in which the head is pivoted to the shank so as to swing sidewise relative to the shank.

In the accompanying drawings: Figure 1 is a horizontal sectional plan of a car coupler embodying the invention. Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional elevation thereof, enlarged, on line 2-2, Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a longitudinal sectional elevation thereofenlarged. Figs. 4 and 5 are transverse sectional elevations of the look as seen from different directions, on line 4- 1, Fig. 3. Fig. 6 is a horizontal section of the lock in line 6-6, Fig. 2. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectional elevation, enlarged, of the coupler in line 7-7, Fig. 1, showing the position of the parts when the lock is raised. Fig. 8 is a horizontal section showing the lock, operating levers and other parts in plan, in the positions occupied when the lock is raised.

A represents the head, and B the shank or drawbar of a car coupler. The head is connected to the front end of the shank, as by a vertical pivot pin C, in such a way that Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1916.

Serial No. 820,505.

the head can swing sidewise to a limited extent on the shank. In the vconstruction shown, the head is provided with a springoperated centering device 0 which extends into the shank and cooperates with transverse inclined surfaces c 0 in the shank to normally retain the head yieldingly in a central position and return it to such position from its deflected position at either side. This invention, however, is not con cerned with the centering device and the same can be omitted, or a centering device of difiierent construction employed, if 'de sired.

D represents the usual horizontally swinging knuckle of the coupler which is hinged at one side of the head by a vertical knuckle pin (Z and has a tail d that extends into the head and is engaged by a vertically movable lock E for locking the knuckle. The lock E preferably consists of a body or block of substantially cube-shape arranged to slide vertically in the head and having a vertical leg which depends through a guide hole 6 in the bottom of the head. In the lock shown, the leg is separate from the body block and has a reduced upper end portion which is secured in a socket e in the body by a screw 6 This screw is inserted from the front side of the look into registering holes in the body and leg and has a threaded rear end which screws into a threaded portion of the screw hole in the body. A cotter pin e passing through a hole in the front end of the screw and occupying a recess 6 in the front ofthe lock body, secures the screw against turning. The described construction enables the lock body E to be inserted through the knuckle opening in the front of the head and the leg to be passed up through its hole 6 in the bottom of the head and secured to the block by the screw, which can be readily inserted and locked by tools introduced through the knuckle opening. The lock is confined in place in the coupler head and guided in its vertical movements by the leg 6 working in the hole 6 and by vertical guide surfaces in the coupler head. The vertical side and rear walls f and 7" form the guide surfaces at one side and in rear of the lock and a vertical rib f on the rear wall and a vertical wall or partition f form the guide surfaces at the opposite side of the lock. Then the knuckle is open, as indicated in Fig. 8, the body of the lock rests on the tail of the knuckle, being thereby held in the raised or released position, and when the knuckle is closed the lock drops ofi of the tail between the same and the side wall f of the head and thus locks the knuckle in a well known manner.

G and H represent levers for lifting the lock to release the knuckle. These levers are pivoted to the coupler head at op aosite sides of the lock to swing in vertical p anes, and are oppositely arranged. Each lever is pivoted between its ends and has a lower arm which extends inwardly from the lever pivot for engagement with the lock, and an operating arm which preferably extends. substantially vertically upward from the lever pivot and terminates at about the height of the top of the coupler so that it will not interfere with any parts or devices on the car above the plane of the coupler. The upper end of each lever is provided with an eye g or is otherwise adapted for the attachment of .an operating connection, by pulling which outwardly or away from the coupler, the lower arm of the lever is raised and lifts the lock. The lower arms 9 and 72, of the levers extend into a transverse slot 7&2 in the bottom of the lock body in which they are adapted to slide when operating the lock, the lower end of one lever being located in front of the lower end of the other lever so as not to interfere. A stud g preferably projects rearwardly from the lower end of the lever G into a groove 9* in the rear wall of the slot 7L2 so that the lock can be positively lowered, as well as raised, by means of the lever and so that the lever will be swung on its pivot when the lock is either raised or lowered and will thus serve to indicate by its position whether the lock is up or down and the knuckle released or locked. The other lever H is similarly connected to the lock E for the same purpose by a stud 72, which projects forwardly from the lower end of the lever into a groove 72; in the front wall of the slot 71/2 in the body or leg of the lock. The lever G is preferably fulcrumed inside of the coupler head between the walls 7" and 7 thereof on a pivot pin 2' seated in holes in these walls. The pivot pin hole 2" in the rear wall 7' of the head extends through the same, as shown in Fig. 8, thus enabling the pin to be inserted from the rear through this hole into the registering holes in the lever G and in the wall i The lever G is secured to the pivot pin 1; between the walls 7" f by a cotter pin 2' or other suitable means, and thus retains the pivot pin in place. The upper arm of this lever projects out through a slot 2' in the upper portion of the coupler head. The other lever H is preferably fulcrumed exteriorly of the coupler head on a pivot pin K which passes through vertical webs 7: connecting two of the usual strengthening ribs 70 of the head. The pivot pin can be secured in place by a cotter pin or in any other suitable way. The levers G and H are thus arranged to swing in transverse vertical planes in front of the rear wall of the coupler head and of the pivotal connection between the head and the shank, this arrangement permitting the coupler shank to be pivoted to the head in rear of and close to the lock. No space is required for the levers between the lock and the pivotal connection for the head. By employing the levers pivoted between their ends on the coupler head and having upwardly extending operating arms as described, the lever operating connections are located and operate substantially in the horizontal plane of the coupler, in which location they will be free from interference with the usual parts or devices on the car either above or below the coupler. The lock can be actuated either by the lever G or by the lever H, and the other lever dispensed with, or both levers retained, thus adapting the coupler to be operated from either the right or the left-hand side of the car or from both sides, as may be demanded by different purchasers. As different roads make different requirements in this respect, the above construction enables the manufacturer to meet the various diiferent requirements in a single construction by the simple expedient of using one or the other or both levers.

L represents a knuckle opening lever, which is fulcrumed in the coupler head between the wall and the front wall thereof. This lever has a depending arm adapted to engage the tail of the knuckle and an arm which projects over and is adapted to be struck by the lock, when the latter is lifted, to swing the lever on its pivot and throw open the knuckle. The kicker-lever is preferably fulcrumed on a pivot pin Z which is retained by a cotter pin Z, or other fastening, in holes in the front wall and wall 7 of the coupler head. The pivot pin is adapted to be inserted into the holes from the front of the head before the knuckle is connected to the head.

I claim as my invention:

1. In a car coupler, the combination with a coupler head, a laterally swinging pivoted knuckle, and a vertically slidable knuckle look within said head, of lock lifting levers pivoted on the coupler head at opposite sides of said lock to swing in substantially vertical planes extending trans versely of the coupler between the front and rear faces of the lock, said levers having arms which extend toward each other within the coupler head and are operatively connected to said lock one in front of the other, and upwardly extending operating arms.

2. In a car coupler, the combination with a coupler head, a lateral swinging pivoted knuckle and a vertically slidable knuckle lock having a body block, and a guide leg of smaller cross section than said block, of a lock lifting lever pivoted on the coupler head at one side of said lock to swing trans versely of the coupler in a substantially ver tical plane, said lever having an arm which extends within the coupler head and enters and is adapted to slide transversely of said body block in a downwardly-opening transverse slot in the bottom of said block, and an upwardly extending operating arm.

3. In a car coupler, the combination with a coupler head having a knuckle opening in its front wall, and a laterally swinging pivoted knuckle, of a vertically slidable knuckle lock having a body block in the coupler head and a separate piece leg of smaller cross section than said block depending into a guide hole in the bottom of the coupler head, said lock block being adapted to be inserted into the head through said knuckle opening and said leg being adapted to be inserted through said guide hole and secured to the block, a lock lifting lever pivoted on the coupler head at one side of said lock and adapted to swing in a substantially vertical plane extending transversely of the coupler between the front and rear faces of the lock block, said lever having an arm which extends transversely within the coupler head. and has an operative connection with said lock block within the coupler head for operating the lock.

4. In a car coupler, the combination with a vertically slidable knuckle lock having a body and a leg of reduced cross section depending from said body into a guide hole in the bottom of the coupler head, of a lock lifting lever pivoted on the coupler head at one side of said lock to swing transversely in a substantially vertical plane, said lever having an arm which extends in said head beneath the overhanging portion of the body of said lock and has a sliding operable connection therewith for lifting said lock when said arm of the lever is raised.

5. In a car coupler. the combination with a vertically slidable knuckle lock having a body provided with a transverse downwardly opening slot in its bottom and a leg of reduced cross section depending from the body into a guide hole in the bottom of the coupler head, of a lock lifting lever pivoted on the coupler head at one side of said lock to swing transversely in a substantially vertical plane, said lever having an arm which slidably engages in said slot in the body of the lock.

6. In acar coupler, the combination with a vertically slidable knuckle lock, of a lock lifting lever pivoted on the coupler head at one side of said lock to swing transversely of the coupler in a substantially vertical plane, said lever having an arm which is arranged to work in a transverse downwardly facing slot in the lock and is provided with a laterally projecting stud which slidably engages in a transverse groove in said lock, whereby the lever is adapted to positively move the lock both upwardly and downwardly.

7 In a car coupler, the combination of a vertically movable knuckle lock, and lock lifting levers pivoted on the coupler head at opposite sides of said lock to swing transversely of the coupler in substantially vertical planes, said levers having arms arranged to slide one in front of the other in a transverse slot in the lock, said arms having oppositely projecting studs each slidably entering a transverse groove in one wall of the slot in the lock,whereby each lever is adapted to positively move the lock both upwardly and downwardly.

8. In a car coupler, the combination with a coupler head having a vertical partition extending transversely therein between the front and rear walls of the head, and a knuckle lock which is slidable vertically between the inner edge of said partition and the opposite wall of the head, of a lock lifting lever pivoted in said coupler head at one side of the lock and in rear of said partition to swing transversely of the coupler in a substantially vertical plane and operatively connected to said lock, and a knuckle opening lever pivoted in the coupler head in front of said wall to swing transversely,

said knuckle opening lever being actuated I by said lock for opening the knuckle.

9. In a car coupler, a vertically slidable knuckle lock comprising a body block and a separate leg which is seated in a socket in said body block and depends therefrom through a guide hole in the bottom of the coupler head, a screw inserted into said body block from the front thereof for connecting said leg to the body block, and a locking device for said screw engaging the front end of the screw and occupying a recess in the front side of said body block.

10. In a car coupler, the combination with a coupler head, a shank to which said head is pivoted at its rear, a laterally swinging knuckle having a tail entering the coupler head, and a vertically movable knuckle lock within the rear portion of the coupler head for cooperation with the knuckle tail, of a lock lifting lever pivoted to the coupler head at one side of said lock and having an Witness my hand, thisl9th day of Februalim extecrlicling transversely within the couary, 1914.

er hea and oaerativel connected with s aicl lock and ari 'angecl t3 swing in a sub- WILLARD RICHARDS stantially vertical plane extending trans- Witnesses:

Versely of the coupler head between the tail DONALD C. DAVIS,

of the knuckle and the pivot for the head. ALLEN B. BRIMMER.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for five cents each, by addressing the "Commissioner of Patents,

Washington, D. C. 

